Sometimes the best way we can get information is through
word of mouth. I would like to start a thread that I think
would be fun and at the same time provide some interesting facts for everybody to share. So if you have some informative information to share, please feel free to add
what you can and let's get enlightened.

Did You Know??????

Slave info:

The state of slavery was not recognize by the law of Canada, Nor did its law admit that any man can own
another. Every slave that came into the Province was
immediately freed.

Remember the story of the abolitionist William Lloyd
Garrison, we all learned about in School. Frederick
Douglass and he did not see eye to eye on some issues.
While Frederick demanded greater leadership for blacks
he was rebuffed by Garrison, who felt the black race should
play a more passive role, exerting only moral force.

The Great escape: Henry Brown, a slave in Richmond,
Virginia. Hid in a trunk, supplied himself with biscuits and
water and mailed himself to an agent of the Underground
Railroad in Philadelphia. When he reached freedom, he was called Henry"Box" Brown.

In August 1862. President Lincoln had urged blacks to consider a plan to colonize Central America. Black response was immediate.
On Quote: Lincoln said. "You and we are different races,
I think your race suffers very greatly by being among us, while ours suffers from your presence.. .....But from your
race among us there would be no war. There is an
unwillingness on the part of our people for free, colored
people to remain with us. This place I am thinking about having a colony....is a very excellent one for any people and with great material resources...and especially because of the simularities to your native land. If you engage in the enterprise, I will spend some of the money entrusted to me."
The president's statement blaming the people raised outcrys among blacks.
Black writer, George B Vashon said. "The negro may have been the bone of contention in our present civil war, but he is not the cause. That cause must be sought in the wrongs inflicted on him by the white man."

Bamboozled: The Amistad Mutiny led by Congelese
chief Joseph Cinque, in 1839. Killed captain and crew leaving some members to direct them back to Africa
The crew TRICKED them and instead sailed to the United States mainland where they were placed on trial.

On March 30 1865- The Ku Klux Klan was formed in
Pulaski Tennessee. Its leader, General Nathan Bedford Forrest, Rebel Chief at the Fort Pillow Massacre. Its object to accomplish by terror and murder.... the permanent
subjugation of black men and women through the South.

Buffalo Soldiers:

The buffalo were considered
sacred by the Cheyenne Indian of the Great Plains.
When a brave calls an enemy "Buffalo" he respects his
enemy as he does the buffalo. The Cheyenne call the black
troops of the U. S. 9th and 10th calvary....."Buffalo Soldiers".

Buffalo Soldiers

Riding, riding

fighting for freedom
named for their courage
spirit of the buffalo
Cheyenne Indians claim

they gained respect
the 9th and 10th
calvary regiment

riding, riding

across the plains
forgotten soldiers
history is silent
their honor in vain

riding, riding

tho they fought bravely
receiving honor in praise
given the congressional medal
their accomplishments were concealed

riding, riding

their spirits finally free
the buffalo soldiers
will always be remembered
in African American history

Epiphany(c)1988

Victor Hugo, the French orator and writer and the author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, condemn slavery. From a letter he sent addresses any friend of freedom. He said, "Let all great souls who love the United states as a country be reassured. The United States must renounce slavery or they must renounce liberty. They must renounce slavery or renounce the gospel. They will never renounce gospel. Accept with my devotion to the cause you advocate the homage of my respect.

Inventors:

"The Real McCoy" This phrase brought immortality to the black inventor Elijah J. McCoy, son of runaway slaves, he holds more than 50 patents for inventions. His greatest invention was a device which made it possible to oil machinery... while it was running, greatly increasing efficiency.

The earliest patent went to Henry Blair of Maryland in 1834, for a corn harvester.

In 1846, Norbert Rillieux patented a vacuum pan that revolutionized the refining of sugar.

The shoemaking machine of Jan Matzeliger, patented in 1883, reduced the steps of making shoes by hand to one simple operation. This increased the income from shoe
manufacturing in New England alone 350% and
sales of American shoes overseas rose to 16 million dollars.
Matzeliger's method of producing shoes was adopted around the world.

Granville Woods, In 1888 was called the "Greatest electrician in the world", by the white newspaper The
American Tribune. For his improvements for railroad and
electrical equipment. His electrical devices were so advanced
that on two occasions, Thomas Edison tried to patent them also. Woods sued Edison in court, proving that he was first to develop and patent the ideas. Edison was so impressed with Woods he offered him a position with the Edison Company, which Woods turned down preferring to work
on his own.

Lewis Latimer, a inventor also, did join Edison's company.
In 1876, he had helped Alexander Graham Bell patent the
telephone. An expert electrical engineer and patented draftsman. Mr Latimer executed Bell's drawings. Latimer
left Bell and joined Edison in 1884. He drew the original
plans for Edison's inventions.

Explorer:

Matthew Henson was quoted as saying; "When I went
to Greenland. They told me I couldn't stand the cold, that
no black man could. I said I was willing to die if neccessary
to show them."
Henson, for his accomplishment was praised and then ignored. Peary sent Henson a telegram stating, " I
congratulate you and your race upon Matthew Henson. He has driven home to the world your great adaptability and fibre of which you are made. He has added to the moral stature of every intelligent man among you......He
deserves every attention you can show him."
However, since Peary made the statements he himself had shown Henson little or no attention. Their only correspondence had been a telegram from Peary. Henson
said. "When I started out on my lecture tour, Peary telegraphed me to abandoned it. He gave me no reason
for his request. I am much surprised after the hardships we
went through together and the work I have done for him".
Henson who saved Peary's life on at least two occasions, often work for the white explorer for little or no pay.
Peary's unkindness hadn't dimmed his high ideals, he
stated at one of his lectures. "There can be no conquest for
the man who dwells in the narrow and small enviroment of a groveling life, and there can be no vision for the man......whose vision is limited by the bounds of self...the
path is not easy......but the glory at the end is worthwhile."

The Yuruba people in A.D. 1200 made scriptures
in brass rather than bronze, which are still famous throughout the world.

The African people learned to cultivate their land nearly 8,000 years ago.

As early as 500 BC two regular trade routes had
been established by Africans across the Sahara Desert.

The first settlers in South America were believed to have come from Africa.

Hieroglyphics, the first writing, developed in Africa.

Africa was once colonized by every major European country.

This information was taken from a compilation of black newspapers who were dedicated in getting information to the
black public throughout history; Freedom's Journal founded in 1827, Mr Samuel Ei Cornish( a Presbyterian minister) and John Brown Russman were abolitionist and Colonizationist they were editors of this paper. Colored American (1827-1842)
in New York City, The North Star (1847-1851) in Rochester, NY, National Era (1847-1860) in Washington DC and Frederick Douglasss' paper (1851-1855) in Rochester NY. Although shortlived these papers played a crucial and lasting role as a first hand history of the social development of African Slaves and so called freedom in America. These complilations were put together by Maloyd Ben Wilson, Publisher and Ceo/owner of The Black Chronicles.

For the read and interest.....
I also am a fan of the Buffalo Soldiers
In fact, I wrote a poem about them
some years ago.....we don't hear enough
about them. If you could pull up some added
info to share, it would be greatly appreciated.
you are most welcome.

Epiphany

note: UL820, the 19th was a misprint
you are correct it is the 9th and 10th

Epiphany, that was very enlighting- these are fact that need to be told. As a matter of fact you have just helped me with my next topic for my Men's Fellowship group.

It should also be known that there are (2) two Buffalo Soldiers left living today. but only one realize what today is. I have a group at will be putting on a Military Ball in honor of them very soon. Hopfully in May of 2002. Due to the Sept. 11th problem we had to cancel it from Nov 10th, 2001.

It should also be known that most of the things we use to day was created by a black man (i.e. the refigurator, stop lights - so on and so on).

She was created by a French sculpter by the
name of Frederic August Bartholdi (1834-1904). To be given to United States as a gift
to represent Freedom, Liberty and an invitation to immigrants. He began construction in 1875. Completed in Paris in June of 1884 and presented to America by France on July 4, 1884. The statue was dismantled and transported on the ship French Frigate "Isere" in 1885, there was 350 pieces in 214 crates. The statue was accepted on Oct. 28, 1886, by then President Grover Cleveland.
In his acceptance speech Cleveland was quoted as saying:

"We should not forget that Liberty here made her home, nor shall her chosen alter be neglected."

The pedestal was constructed by a architect in 1877, his name was Richard M. Hunt.
The statue stands 151 feet
steps to crown is 354 steps (27 stories)
there are 25 windows in the crown
chains under the foot represents Liberty crushing the chains of slavery.
The statue's inscription was written by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) and read:

"The New Collossus"

Not like the brazen giant of greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch,
whose flame
Is imprisoned lightning
and her name
Mother of Exiles.

From her beacon-hand
Glows world wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp"
cries she
With silent lips"

However, as of late, facts have come to the surface of the real, inspiration of the Statue of Liberty....

The original idea of the 151 statue in the harbor was the role black soldiers played in the ending of bondage in the United States. The idea came from a Historian, his name was Edourd de Laboulaye, he was chairmen of the French anti-slavery society
who together with Frederic Bartholdi proposed to the French Government, to the people of the United States through
the American Abolitionist Society. That it be a gift in honor of the black soldier's bravery in fighting and winning the battle for their freedom.

Before Bartholdi met Laboulaye....
In 1855-1856, he traveled with friends
to the Orient, during this trip he came across
the Nile. Bartholdi, on his first trip to Egypt, took noticed in amazement of the majestic qualities of the monuments and the magnitude of the civilization. He was amazed how they survived time. He stayed in Egypt for 8 months, to learn the culture and sketch/photograph the monuments. He was so fascinated he made sculpting statues his life's work. Upon his return home, he made models of statues. In 1869, he return to Egypt and used an image of ancient Egypt as the inspiration to sculpt the statue of the current Liberty.
When the statue was presented to the US minister to France in 1884, it is said that he objected to the dominant view of the broken shackles. It would be offensive to the US south, since the statue was a reminder of the beaten south.
The original statue has broken chains at her feet and in her left hand, which can be viewed in a Museum in France and at the Museum in New York.

Note:

Documentation of these facts, is said to be
found in the June 17, 1986, edition of The New York Post, along with the reason for the
broken chains at her feet.

The New York Times May 18, 1986, magazine Pt.2. Where there is an article
by Laboulaye.

French Mission or the French Embassy of the UN or in Washington DC and inquire
for original material on the Statue Of Liberty. Including the Bartholdi original model.